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Crisis Communication and Media Relations

Ask any pro athlete or celebrity—a crisis situation can significantly damage your reputation and public image. This course gives you critical skills in coping with crises, communicating with your customers, and dealing with the media.

This class is held in the Scripps Convergence Lab in the College of Communication and Information at the University of Tennessee. For questions, contact Dr. Sam Swan, Professor of Journalism and Electronic Media and Director of Internationalization and Outreach for the UT College of Communication and Information, at 865-974-5123 or samswan@utk.edu.
  

Key Benefits


This course will help you develop an effective crisis communication and media relations strategy for your organization. Your takeaways include . . .
  • Improving and managing your external communication skills
  • Improving your media relations techniques
  • Improving and managing your public image and reputation
  • Effective communication with all publics
We’ll cover this list of crucial topics:
  • Understanding media—old and new
  • What journalists want and need
  • Press conferences and press releases
  • Being interviewed on camera
  • Corporate image and reputation
  • Understanding the public and your customers
  • Developing consistent messages
  • Listening to the public
  • Issues in management and crisis communication
  • Best practices in crisis communication
  • Use of social and new media in crisis communication
  • Crisis communication press conferences
  • Public communication
  • Business presentations to the public
  • Communicating with disgruntled people
  • Working with government leaders

Intended Audience


Mid-level managers who want to improve their skills in dealing with crises and the media.

Duration/Dates


September 11-13, 2013

Faculty


John Haas, Ph.D.—associate professor and director, School of Communication Studies. Dr. Haas has conducted research and service activities that focus on the importance of oral communication skills in delivering complex information. He has worked with organizations such as Argonne National Laboratory, the Brookhaven National Laboratory, the Los Alamos National Laboratory, and the Oak Ridge National Laboratory. 

Kenneth Levine, Ph.D., J.D.—associate professor, School of Communication Studies. Dr. Levine teaches organizational communication, group communication, and leadership; additional areas of interest are international communication and the international workplace.

Michael Palenchar, Ph.D.—associate professor, School of Advertising and Public Relations, and managing director of UT’s Risk, Health & Crisis Communication Research Unit. Dr. Palenchar is a consultant for clients ranging from Fortune 500 companies to local government and other agencies, and his research interests include risk and crisis communication, issues management, and social media during risk situations.

Sam Swan, Ph.D.—professor of journalism and electronic media and director of internationalization and outreach, College of Communication and Information. Dr. Swan has more than 40 years experience in broadcast education, broadcast management, and television news and is now a leading international media trainer for broadcast managers in more than 40 countries.

Cost


$2500

Cost of the program includes . . .
  • Most meals (excludes dinner)
  • On-campus transportation
  • Materials/simulations
  • Professional education credits, where applicable
Preferred pricing is available for multiple attendees from the same organization, current students and alumni of the Executive-Level MBA programs, and individuals who qualify for our General Services Agency (GSA) tuition rates. Note: if you qualify for GSA tuition rates, meals and lodging will be billed separately.

Visit our preferred pricing page or call +1 (865) 974-5001 for more information.